Apparatus for the production of carbon black



Feb. 4, 1930. J. MACHTOLF 1,746,003

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON BLACK Filed Dec. 1926 I22 V512 ZOZ: JOJE'F NA (H TOLF BY MS.

14 TTOR/YE Y Patented Feb. 4, 1930 urran s ATES ATENT orF cE JOSEF MACHTOLF, OF GELLE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM GER. HOSTMANN- STEINBERGSOHE FARBENFABRIKEN G. M. B. H., OF CELLE, GERMANY APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON BLACK Application filed December 9, 1926, Serial No.

My invention relates to improvements in the process of and apparatus for splitting hydrocarbons such as acetylene gas or mixtures thereof into their components.

As is known to those skilled in the art, acetylene gas is split into its gaseous and solid components, viz hydrogen and carbon, by passing the same into a cylinder or the like, compressing the acetylene gas to a pressure of 30 or more pounds, and producing an electric spark within the charge, which is thereby split into its components. By the explosion connected with this process high pressure is produced, and the walls of the cylinder must be st'ron enough to take up the said pressure. Un er normal conditions the said pressure will not be much more than 300 pounds. However, the .explosion of the acetylene gas is effected within an'exceedingly short period of time, so that the pressure rises from 30 pounds to 300 pounds within an exceedingly small fraction of the second, thus causing alternating strains in the wall of the cylinder. Further, in order to split comparatively large amounts of gas, the initial pressure of the said gas prior to splitting should be about 150 pounds, and the capacity of the splitting cylinder should be as large as possible. Therefore, the pressure within the cylinder and the strain of the wall thereof are a multiple of the said 300 pounds.

The object of the improvements is to provide a process and a system for putting the same into eifect in which the strains of the splitting cylinder and the danger caused thereby are reduced to a minimum, and with this object in view my invention consists in constructing the splitting receptacle in the form of a comparatively long pipe. Thereby I am enabled to provide a receptacle of any desired capacity by increasing the length thereof, without simultaneously increasing the same in diameter, so that the strain on the wall of the receptacle remains the same.

For the purpose of explaining the invention an apparatus suitable for putting the same into effect has been shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the 153,646, and in Germany December 11, 1925.

views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawing,

Fig. 1, is an elevation showing a splitting receptacle in the form of a horizontal pipe,

Fig. 2, is a top plan view showing a modification in which the receptacle consists of a plurality of parallel pipes jointedat their ends, and

Fig. 3, is a top plan view showing a splitting apparatus consisting of a series of pipes disposed within a cooling receptacle.

In the example shown in Fig. 1, a pipe 1 of which the length is a multiple of the diameter is mounted at one end on a suitable base 2 by means of aband 3 clamped thereon by screws 4. At its opposite end the pipe is mounted for being displaceable in longitudinal direction, for which purpose it is loosely supported on the bifurcated top part 6 of a pillar 5 rising from the floor of the work shop. Thus, the pipe is capable of expansion when being heated. The pipe 1 is provided with means such as a valve 10 for filling the same with acetylene gas, a valve 1.1 for removing the slit components, and means for producing a spark discharge therein, which means are indicated in a diagrammatical way by an electric circuit 12 includ ing a source of electric energy 13.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the receptacle consists of a plurality of pipes 7 and 8 jointed respectively at their 0 posite ends by U-shaped pipes 9. It will he understood that in a similar Way any desired number of pipes 7 and 8 may be combined, and that thereby a splitting chamber of any desired capacity may be provided.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a coil of pipes 14 confined within a tank 15 containing a suitable cooling medium such as water or oil.

As now practiced the splitting receptacle or cylinder is disposed vertically. But in my improved system I prefer to dispose the pipes providing the splitting receptacle horizontally, in order that the valves and other parts connected with the pipe may be readily accessible. B constructing the receptable in the form 0 long pipes, it can be reador by boring the same from solid rods. Further, the pipe can be readily assembled from a large number of short pipes. By providing a splltting receptacle of small diameter, as distinguished from receptacles in the form of drums having comparatively large diameters, the receptacle is able to take up a suddenly rising high pressure, and the pressure with- The cooling surface of the receptacle which is in contact with the outer air is comparatively large. The receptacle is readily cooled by the air, and it can be readily held at normal temperature by using water or oil as a cooling medium. Thus after splitting, the receptacle and the charge containedtherein can be rapidly cooled, so that after a comparatively short period of time the apparatus can be used for splitting another charge of acetylene. Further, the solid matter, such as soot or carbon black split from the acetylene gas can be removed from a long and thin pipe more rapidly and completely than from a short drum having a large diameter, the said soot being removed from the pipe for example by blowing hydrogen gas therethrough. Finally, I have found that by splitting the acetylene gas by a somewhat elastic explosion a soot is obtained the molecules of which are comparatively soft, the

signature.

J OSEF MACHTOLF.

temperature of the explosion being comparatively low as compared to explosions caused in receptacles of large diameter. As is known, -high explosion temperatures result in a granular and hard soot. In my improved process the explosion temperature is reduced before it has time to harden the molecules. Further, high temperatures are undesirable because they change the colour of the soot, low temperatures within the splitting cham ber resulting in the desired dark black colour of the soot, while high temperatures impart a brownish colour thereto.

The invention has been described in connection with acetylene as material for the splitting operation; it is to bev understood that such acetylene may be mixed with other substances such as other hydrocarbons.

What I claim is An apparatus for the production of'carhon-black from hydrocarbons comprising a plurality of pipes capable of withstanding high pressures and disposed one beside the other, the pipes communicating with one an- 

